Switch



Sept. 19, 1961 G. J. CAMPBELL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Iviay 2. 1957 Imam/tax Br ,WZLWMW Sept. 19, 1961 DRE 5;

United States Patent 3,001,040 SWITCH Gregory J. Campbell, Freeport, lll., assignor to William T. Neiman, Freeport, III. Filed May 2, 1957, Ser. No. 656,534 17 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates to electric switches and particularly to a snap-acting switch.

An important object of this invention is to provide'a snap-acting switch which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture. Another object of this invention is to provide a switch blade construction having an improved arrangement for tensioning portions of the blade while compressing other portions of the blade and to provide a snapacting blade construction which can be manufactured with a high degree of uniformity and at a low cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide a snapacting switch including an overcenter type switch blade having two stable positions and an improved actuator for operating the blade from one position.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the switch shown mounted on a wall;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view through the switch mechanism, taken on the plane 2-2 of FIG- FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the i switch blade, taken on the plane 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken on the plane 5-5 of FIGURE '2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the switch blade and actuator;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged'longitudinal sectional view through the switch, taken on the plane 77 of FIG- FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional view through the switch blade, taken on the plane 8-8 of FIGURE 7, and

FIGURE 9 is a partial exploded view of the switch blade assembly.

The switch mechanism of the present invention is specifically designed for use as a wall switch for controlling flight circuits and the like and, as best shown in FIG- URES l, 2 and 4, includes a faceplate 12 having spaced apertures 13 therein adapted for reception of fasteners 14 by means of which the switch is secured to a conventional outlet box (not shown) in a wall 15. The

switch housing is preferably formed integrally with the face plate 12 and includes spaced side walls 16 and end walls 17 and18. The housing is open at the bottom thereof and the face plate 12 is provided with an elongated opening 19 for reception of the operating button 21. As'best shown in FIGURE 2, the width of the opening 19 is less than the spacing between the side walls 16' of'the housing to provide inwardly extending flanges 22 along opposite sides of the opening 19. Downwardly facing semi-cylindrical sockets23 are formed in the inwardly extending flanges 22, for a purpose to be described position to the other Patented Sept. 19, 1961 thereof adapted tooverlie the end walls 17 and 18, respectively. A pin 29 is arranged to be extended through aligned bores in the side walls 16 and base plate 25 to secure the latter in position on the housing.

The switch blade 31 of the present invention is formed of a single flat strip or leaf spring, and is initially stamped or otherwise formed as shownin FIGURE 9. More specifically, the leaf spring is formed with one end portion 32 arranged to be fixedly supported on the base plate 25, and for this purpose is provided with an aperture 33 therein adapted to receive a fastener 34. As best shown in FIGURE 4, the fastener 34 is threaded into a conductive ferrule 35 in the base plate, the other end of which ferrule is threaded to receive a suitable fastener (not shown) for attaching one of the lead wires to the switch and thereby electrically connect the blade member 31 to an external electrical circuit. The leaf spring is also formed With a longitudinally extending notch which extends from a point adjacent the end portion 32 to the other end of the blade member and defines spaced side portions 38 and 39 which are integrally connected, at only one end thereof, to the end portion 32. Each of the side portions 38 and 39 have a longitudinally extending slot formed therein which terminates short of the ends of the side portions and forms the latter into spaced inner and outer strips designated 38a and 38b, and 39a and 39b. As is apparent, the inner and outer strips 38a and 38b and the inner and outer strips 39a and 3917 are each integrally connected with the end portion 32 and one end thereof, and integrally connected to each other at the other or freeend of the side portions 38 and 39 respectively. In order to provide tension and compression members in the switch blade, the side portions 38 and 39 are displaced relative to each other in the plane of the blade. This may conveniently be effected by drawing the. free ends of the side portions 38 and 39 toward each other and then inserting an oblate sleeve 41 over the free ends of the side portions to retain the latter in their displaced position whereby the inner strips 38a and 39a are placed under compression and the outer strips 38b and 39b are placed undertension. Preferably, the outer edges of the side portions 38 and 39 are notched as indicated at 42 and 43 to receive the sleeve 41. A illustrated in FIG URE 8, the longitudinal edges defined by the notches 42 and 43 are arranged to diverge slightly from each other so that, when the side portions are drawn together, the longitudinal edges defined by the notches will be disposed in substantial parallelism. The sleeve 41 is then flattened onto the free ends of the side portions to firmly secure the latter thereto, and, if desired, it may be soldered or otherwise firmly bonded to the switch blade. The sleeve 41 is advantageously formed of a conductive material so that it forms the contact on the switch blade.

When the side portions 38 and 39 are displaced inwardly, as shown in FIGURE 7, the inner compression members 38a and 39a will bow outwardly relative to the tension members 38b and 39b and are movable from one stable position bowed outwardly at one end of the tension members as shown in FIGURE 4 to a reverse stable position bowed outwardly at the other side of the tension members, as shownin FIGURE 5. Spaced stops are pro- .vided at opposite sides of the free end of the blade 31 shown) for connecting the switch plate 45 to an external ing button. provided with a pivot pin 71 which extends transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof and projects outwardly for electrical circuit. One end portion of the plate 45 is positioned to underlie the sleeve 41 on the switch blade 31 to be engaged thereby in one position of the switch blade. A second generally U-shaped contact .member 51 is mounted in a notch 50 in one end of the base plate and has a portion 51:: thereon overlying the free end of the switch blade, to be engaged thereby in the other position of the switch blade. The contact member 51 is also attached to the base plate, as by a fastener 52 which is threaded into a ferrule 53, which fastener is also adapted to connect the member 51 to an external electrical circuit. A depending tab 55 is preferably formed on the end wall 18 to extend into the notch 50 in the base plate at the side thereof opposite the contact member 51.

An actuator is provided for operating the switch and includes a member mounted on the inner strips 38a and 39a which are under compression to selectively reverse the position of the compression strips relative to the tension strips, in response to rocking movement of the actuator. In the specific actuator illustrated, there is provided a. generally U-shaped member having spaced leg portions 61 and a connecting web portion 52. Notches 63 are provided in opposed ends of the leg portions 61 closely adjacent the web portion 62, which notches are dimensioned to slidably receive the inner strips 38a and 39a. The actuator is preferably assembled on theswitch blade,

prior to mounting of the sleeve 41 thereon, by sliding the actuator on the switch blade and between the opposed side portions 38 and 39 thereof until the actuator reaches a position such as shown in FIGURES 7 and 9, closely adjacent the end portion 32 of the switch blade. The end of the notch between the side portions 38 and 39 is preferably shaped, as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 9, to limit further sliding movement of the actuator to the left, as viewed in these figures. When the side portions are thereafter displaced inwardly and clamped by the sleeve 41, the strips 38a and 39a converge relative to each other and bind against the actuator, to prevent axial displacement thereof.

The actuator is thus arranged to be rocked about an axis parallel to the plane of the switch blade and transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, to selectively reverse the position of the compression members 38a and 39a relative to the tension members 38b and 3%. A pair of laterally extending arms 64 and 65 are provided on the free ends of the legs 61, and extend therefrom longitudinally of the blade member.

The operating button 21 is pivotally mounted and arranged for engagement with the actuating member to rock the latter in response to pivotal movement of the operat- More specifically, the operating button 21 is reception in the semi-cylindrical recesses 23 formed in the underfaces of the flanges 22. The pivot pin 71 is removably supported in the recesses 23 by upstanding plates 72 formed on the base plate 25 and having semicylindrical notches 73 formed in the upper ends thereof which cooperate with the recesses 23 to form bearings for the pivot pin. The operating button 21 is thus pivotally mounted for movement about an axis spaced above the 'switch blade 31 and extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof. Depending protrusions 74 and 75 are formed on the underside of the operating button thereon by the locking pin .29. Since each of the switch elements are directly supported on the base plate, it is 4 apparent that all elements are accurately maintained in proper relation with each other. Moreover, since the blade member 31 is formed in a stamping operation and stressed by the application of the oblate sleeve 41, prior to mounting of the blade on the base 25, it is apparent that the switch blade can be economically manufactured and readily duplicated with little variation in the operating characteristics between any number of blades.

In the switch illustrated, a pair of stationary contacts 45 and 51 are provided so that the switch may be used as either a one-way or a three-way switch. If desired, one of the contacts may be omitted and a non-conductive stop for the switch blade substituted therefor.

I claim:

1. A blade for a snap acting mechanism comprising a resilient leaf spring having one end portion adapted to be fixedly mounted, said leaf spring having a longitudinally extending slot therein terminating short of said one end portion and integrally connected at the outer end to said side portions having a longitudinally extending slot therein terminating short of the ends of said side portions, and forming each of the side portions into inner and outer strips integrally connected at one end to said one end portion and integrally connected at the ouer end to each other, and means displacing the outer ends of the side portions in the plane of said blade a preselected amount from the normal position thereof to tension some of said strips and compress the other of said strips.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lastmentioned means comprises an oblate tubular sleeve inserted over the outer ends of said side portions and forming a contact element on the blade.

3. A blade for a snap acting mechanism comprising a resilient leaf spring having one end portion adapted to be fixedly mounted, said leaf spring having a longitudinal slot extending medially thereof from a point adjacent said one end portion to the other end of said spring and defining spaced side portions, each of said side portions having a longitudinally extending slot therein terminating short of the ends of said side portions and forming each of said side portions into inner and outer strips integrally connected at one end to said end portion and integrally connected together at the outer end thereof, and means formed separate from said blade and extending between the outer ends of said side portions for displacing the outer ends thereof relative to each other a preselected amount in the plane of said blade to tension certain of said strips and compress the other of said strips.

- 4. A blade for a snap acting mechanism comprising a resilient leaf spring having one end portion adapted to be fixedly mounted, said leaf spring having a longitudinal slot extending medially thereof from a point adjacent said one end portion to the other end of said spring and defining spaced side portions, each of said side portions having a longitudinally extending slot therein terminating short of the ends of said side portions and forming each of said side portions into inner and outer strips integrally connected at one end to said end port-ion and integrally connected together at the outer end thereof, and means formed separate from said blade and extending between the outer ends of the side portions for drawing the outer ends thereof toward each other a preselected amount 5 to tension the outer strips and compress the inner strips.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said last-mentioned means is located outwardly of the ends of said slots in the side portions.

6. A switch including a non-conductive support, a switch blade formed of a resilient leaf spring having one end portion thereof mounted on said support, spaced stop means at least one of which is a contact disposed on op posite sides of the free end of said blade, said spring having a longitudinally extending slot therein terminating short of said one end portion and defining spaced side portions, each'of said side portions having alongitudinally extending slot therein terminating short of the ends thereof and forming said side portions into inner and outer strips, means extending between the free ends of said side portions for displacing the latter relative to each other in the plane of said blade to tension one pair of said strips and compress the other pair of said strips to bow said other pair of strips outwardly relative to said one pair of strips, and an actuator engageable with said other pair of strips to move the latter from one stable position in which they bow outwardly-at one side of said one pair of strips to a reverse position inwhich they bow outwardly at the other side of said one pair. of strips whereby the free end of said blade moves from one stop means to the other stop means with a snap action.

7. A switch including a non-conductive support, a switch blade "formed of a resilient leaf spring having one end portion thereof mounted on said support, spaced stop means at least one of which is a contact disposed on op posite sides of the free end of said blade, said spring having a longitudinally extending slot therein terminat ing short of said one end portion and defining spaced side portions, each of said side portions having a longitudinally extending slot therein terminating short of the ends thereof and'forming said side portions into inner and outerstrips, means extending between the free ends of said side portions drawing the free ends toward each other to tension the outer strips and compress the inner strips to cause the latter to bow outwardly relative to the outer strips, and a switch blade actuator supported solely on said inner strips adjacent 'said'one end portion of said blade and having portions thereon straddling opposite sides 'of said inner strips tomove the inner strips from a position in which they bow outwardly at one side of the outer strips to a reverse position in which they bow outwardly at the other side of the outer strips whereby the free end of said blade moves from one stop means to the other stop means with a snap action.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said actuator is dimensioned to be slidably received between said inner strips before the side portions are drawn inwardly and has slots formed in opposite sides thereof for receiving said inner strips.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said actuator has oppositely extending arm portions thereon extending longitudinally of said blade member and in spaced relation thereto for rocking said actuator about an axis disposed parallel to the flat face of said blade and transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof.

10. A switch comprising a switch housing, a switch blade formed of a resilient leaf spring having one end thereof mounted on said housing, spaced stop means at least one of which is a contact disposed on opposite sides of the free end of said blade, said spring having four strips formed integrally with said one end portion, a first pair of adjacent ones of said strips being integrally joined together adjacent the free end of said blade, a second pair of adjacent ones of said strips being integrally joined together adjacent the free end of said blade, means extending betweeen the free ends of said first and second pair of of strips for displacing the latter relative to each other in the plane of said blade to compress one strip of each pair and tension the other strip of each pair and cause the compressed strips to bow outwardly relative to the other strips, an actuator engageable with the compressed strips, and an operating button pivotally mounted on said housing for movement about an axis laterally ofiset from the plane of said blade in all operative positions of the latter and transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof to rock said actuator and move the compressed strips from one stable position in which they bow outwardly at one side of the other strips to the reverse position in which the compressed strips bow outwardly at the other side of the other strips.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said r 6 housingincludes opposed side walls and a removable bottom wall, said stop means and blade being mounted on said bottom wall, and means on said bottom wall extending upwardly therefrom definingspaced journals for pivotally supporting said operating button in spaced relation to the plane of said blade.

12. A switch comprising a switch housing, a switch blade formed of a resilient leaf spring having one end thereof mounted on said housing, spaced stop means at least one of which is a contact disposed on' opposite sides of the free end of said blade, said spring having four strips formed integrally with said one endportion, a first pair of adjacent ones of said strips being integrally joined together adjacent the free end of said blade, a second end of adjacent onesof said strips being integrally joined together adjacent the free end of said blade, means extending betweeen the free ends of said first and second pair of adjacent ones of said strips being integraleach other in the plane of said blade to compress one strip of each pair and tension the other strip ofeach pair and cause the compressed strips to bow outwardly relative to the other strips, an actuator attached to said compressed strips and having oppositely extending arm portions extending longitudinally of the blade in spaced relation thereto, and an operating button pivotally mounted on said housing for movement about an axis laterally ofiset from the plane of said blade in all operative positions of the latter and transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, said button having finger portions thereon engageable with the arms on the actuator to rock the latter in response to pivotal movement .of said button whereby to move the compressed strips from onestable position in which the compressed strips are bowed outwardly at one side of the other strips to a reverse position in which the compressed legs are bowed outwardly at the other side of the other strips.

13. A switch comprising a switch housing having spaced side walls, a bottom plate removably mounted on said side walls, a switch blade formed of a resilient leaf spring having one end portion thereof mounted on said bottom wall, spaced stops disposed at opposite sides of the free end of said blade, at least one of said stops being a contact and mounted on said bottom wall, said switch blade including one portion under tension and another portion under compression, said portion under compression being movable relative to the portion under tension from one stable position in which the compressed portion is bowed outwardly at one side of the tensioned portion to a reverse position in which the compressed member bows outwardly in the opposite direction at the other side of the tensioned portion, an actuator mounted solely on the compressed portion for reversing the position of the compressed member in response to rocking movement of said actuator about an axis parallel to the plane of said blade and transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, said bottom plate having means extending upwardy therefrom defining spaced journals, an operating button pivotally supported on said journals for movement about an axis laterally olfset from the plane of said blade .in all operative positions of said blade and operatively engaging said actuator to rock the latter in response to pivotal movement of said button.

14. The combination of claim 13 including a face plate for an outlet box formed integrally with said housing, said face plate having an opening therein for receiving said operating button.

15. A wall switch comprising a face plate having an elongated opening therein, a switch housing including spaced side and end walls formed at one side of said plate around said opening and spaced inwardly of the side edges and ends of said plate, a bottom plate detachably secured to said housing, a switch mechanism mounted solely on said bottom plate and including spaced stops and an over-center type snap acting blade movable be tween said stops, an actuator mounted on said blade for rocking movement about an axis adjacent said snap acting blade'to actuate said blade from a position engaging one stop to a position engaging the other stop, an elongated operatingbutton disposed in said opening, means pivotally mounting saidbutton for movement about an axis intermediate the ends thereof, said pivot axis of said button being spaced above the pivot axis of said actuator and disposed .closely adjacent said face plate whereby said button is movable from aposition in which one end portion ofthe button projects above said face plate to a position in which the other end portion of the button projects above the face plate, and means on said button .engageable with said actuator for rocking the latter in response to pivotal movement of said button.

16. Awall switch comprising a face plate having an elongated opening therein, a switch housing including spaced :side and end Walls formed at one side of said plate around said opening and spaced inwardly of the side edges and ends of said plate, a bottom plate detachably secured to said housing, a switch mechanism mounted solely on said bottom plate and including spaced stops and an overcenter type snap acting blade movable between said stops, an actuator mounted on said blade for rocking movement about an axis adjacent said snap acting blade to actuate said blade from a position engaging one stop to a position engaging the other stop, an elongated operating button disposed in said opening, means pivotally mounting said button for movement about an axis intermediate the ends thereof, said pivot axis of said button being spaced above the pivot axis of said actuator and disposed closely adjacent said face plate whereby said button is movable from a position in which one end portion of the button projects above said face plate to a position in 8 which the other end portion of the button projects above the face plate, said actuator having portions extending longitudinally of said blade and in spaced relation thereto, and depending projections on said button at opposite sides of the pivot axis, thereof engageable with said portions on said actuator for rocking the same in response to pivotal movement of said button.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said button mounting means includes upstanding projections on opposite sides of said bottom plate, means on said button defining laterally extending trunnions intermediate the ends of'said button, and cooperating means on the upper ends of said projections and the underside of said face plate defining journals for said trunnions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,510,270 Gordon Sept. 30, 1924 1,518,888 Winklehaus Dec. 9, 192.4 1,654,320 Colby Dec. 27, 1927 2,300,489 Deutschmann Nov. 3, 1942 2,363,280 Arnold Now-21, 1944 2,524,408 Trainor Oct; 3, 1950 2,543,036 May Feb. 27, 1951 2,665,352. Bellamy Jan. 5, 1954 2,695,524 Eaton Nov. 30, 1954 2,734,959 Lmmel Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 163,964 Australia July 7, 1955 468,510 Italy Jan. 25, 1952 732,357 Great Britain J an. 22, 1955 1,144,947 France Apr. 29, 1957 UNITED PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,001,040 September '19, 196] Gregory J. Campbell Itis hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat- I ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below. w

Column 4, line 2O for "integrally connected at the outer end to" read defining spaced side portions each of line 25, for "ouer" read outer column 6 line l5 for "end" read pair line 17, for "betweeen read between line 18, 'for "adjacent ones of said strips being integral-" read strips for displacing the latter relative to Signed and sealed this 30th day of January 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Paten 

